Apparatus for continuously treating textile material

ABSTRACT

A flat or tubular textile web is transported in a loose random condition through a tunnel by stream of a chemical treating fluid, such as a cleaning fluid, by which the web is treated and cleaned before being transported by an elastic conveyor to a second tunnel in which the web is transported in the loose random condition by streams of drying air. Drive means dip the tunnel into a bath of the treating liquid in a container.

United States Patent Biesinger Sept. 12, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY 3,324,486 6/ I967 Kurosaki ..68/62 X TREATING TEXTILE MATERIAL 2,826,057 3/1958 Olson.........................68l53 X 2,994,215 3/196] Higginbottom..............68/5 D [72] fi' 'g gl gg g; i 2,344,973 3/1944 Croft et al ..68/DlG. 1 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS No: Canada........................68/l58 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe 0C1. 27, 1969 Germany ..P 19 53 960.7 Sink" 7 ABSIRA T [52] US. Cl. 68/191, 68/158, [5 1 C 3 1 A flat or tubular textile web is transported in a loose 1 51 1111.01. ..D06t 29/02, F26b 13/025051: 3/04 random condition through a tunnel y stream 9f a [58] Field ofSearch....68/DIG. 1, 19.1, 20, 21, 22 R, chemical "eating fluid, such as a cleaning fluid by /2 53 2 14 152 153 154 55 156 which the web is treated and cleaned bBfOI'B being 6 5 5 5 transported by an elastic conveyor to a second tunnel in which the web is transported in the loose random condition by streams of drying air. Dn've means dip [56] References Cited the tunnel into a bath of the treating liquid in a con- UNITED STATES PATENTS miner- 2,634,596 4/1953 Pendleton et a1 ..68/62 X 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures i I I a O 10 21 l l r 4 22 i0 .1!1!:- "\f PATENTED SEP 12 m2 INVENTOR.

51 um Biz-mite;

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[flame] APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY TREATING TEXTILE MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for chemically treating, particularly cleaning, flat and tubular textile webs.

Finishing and dressing machines are known in which textile webs as, for example, manufactured on a loom,

are held on tensioning frames while being transported SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art arrangements concerned with a chemical treatment of textile webs, and to provide an apparatus by which textile webs of all kinds, particularly knitted webs and tubular webs, can be chemically treated in a loose and untensioned condition, particularly cleaned, without the danger of a distortion of the material.

Another object of the invention is to transport the treated web without supporting the same on supporting means.

With these objects in view, the present invention is concerned with an arrangement in which textile webs are transported in a loose random condition through a treating apparatus in which they at least for predetermined distances are transported by the treating fluid or treating fluids.

In an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, at least one tunnel is provided in which a preferably liquid treating fluid flows in one direction and moves the textile web in the same direction so that the stream of pressure fluid at the same time transports the web and treats the same.

In order to increase the effect of the treating fluid during the passage through the tunnel, the tunnel is preferably provided with openings in its wall and reciprocated by cyclically operating drive means to be immersed into a bath of the treating fluid arranged in a container under the tunnel. In this manner, particularly in cleaning arrangements, the chemical treatment and cleaning efiect are improved by a mechanical treatment component which can be further increased by constructing the container of the chemical bath as a comparatively small vat whose dimensions are selected so that the treating liquid in the same is not laterally displaced when the tunnel is immersed in the same, but mainly forced through the openings in the tunnel into the same and into and through the textile material while the same is transported by the stream of the same treating fluid through the tunnel.

in one embodiment of the invention, the web is transported, still in loose and random condition, from the outlet of the tunnel to the inlet of another tunnel through which air is blown in the same direction in which the web enters the same, so that the web is transported in loose, random condition through the second tunnel by the stream of air in the same. Volatile treating liquids still moistening the textile web, are evaporated by the stream of air so that the web material is dried.

Conveyor means between the two tunnels are peferably constructed of elastic conveyor bands and transporting rollers so that the random condition of the web is not disturbed even if the web forms bulky portions.

The arrangement has the substantial advantage that a textile web in random condition need not be placed at a treating station and then treated with the treating fluid, but is drawn by the flowing treating fluid through the treating station formed by a tunnel and preferably by a container with the same treating fluid under the tunnel.

The flexible and elastic conveyor means between the treating tunnel and the drying tunnel, are preferably constructed of two conveyor bands between which the treating liquid is pressed out of the textile web before the same enters the drying tunnel and is transported by the stream of air through the same. This squeezing effect is increased if rollers with an elastic peripheral portion are used.

The apparatus of the invention can be divided into separate units, which can be selectively combined in different numbers and in different positions. By using such units in combination, the apparatus can be adapted to all kinds of treatment which may be required by particular circumstances and a great number of different treating arrangements can be constructed of different numbers of treating, conveying and drying units according to the invention.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional side view illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating a modified driving arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view taken on line III-Ill in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic side view illustrating modified drive means for dipping the treating tunnel into a bath of the treating liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, a textile web, and more particularly a tubular knitted web 10 made on a circular knitting machine, is treated in the apparatus which has a housing 11, with an inlet gate 12, and an outlet gate 13, which are provided for preventing escape of vapors from the treating fluid, preferably from a dry cleaning liquid. Gates l2 and 13 are held open by the web but are otherwise closed.

The web entering through the inlet lock gate 12 first enters a container or vat 14 which is filled with liquid volatile cleaning fluid and enters the inlet of a tunnel 15. A nozzle 16 on casing 11 discharges cleaning fluid 17 into the inlet of tunnel 15 so that a stream of cleaning fluid flows through the same, entraining and transporting web without requiring any mechanical transporting means for the same. During passage through tunnel 15, the web is in a free and loose random condition and not tensioned or distorted in any way, which is of particular importance if a tubular knitted web 10 is treated and cleaned.

The wall of tunnel has in its lower portion openings or cutouts 18 through which the cleaning fluid which was discharged through nozzle 16 into tunnel 15, can flow out into the container 14 when tunnel 15 is located above the level of the cleaning liquid in the same. On the other hand, the cleaning liquid can flow through the openings in tunnel 15 into the same and into contact with the web therein, when tunnel 15 is lowered and dipped into the cleaning liquid in container l4.

The required dipping motions of the tunnel can be obtained by different cyclically operating drive means. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the rear outlet end of tunnel 15 is mounted on a pivot joint schematically indicated at 19, while the inlet end of tunnel 15 is connected by a link 20 to a rotary crank 21 so that the inlet end portion of tunnel 15 is reciprocated up and down into and out of the container 14 whereby the tunnel is repeatedly and cyclically immersed into the cleaning liquid in container 14 which enters through openings 18 and thoroughly wets the web in the tunnel 15. Due to the repeated dipping, successive portions of the transported web are immersed. This effect can be further increased, as will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

After the web has been transported through the tunnel 15 by the flow of cleaning liquid, it enters into the small gap between two endless conveyor belts 22 and 23 which are guided over transporting rollers of which roller 24 is driven for driving conveyor belt 22. The other conveyor belt 23 is moved with conveyor belt 22 by the web located in the gap between the conveyor belts. Conveyor belts 22 and 23 consist of an elastic material, and/or are mounted on transporting rollers which are resiliently supported, so that even bulky portions of the web in random condition can pass between the conveyor belts by increasing the gap between the same. Such bulky portions may form in tunnel 15 when the same is transported in loose and free condition by the stream of cleaning fluid.

Conveyor means 22, 23 transport web 10 into a second tunnel 25 into which a blower 26 blows air under pressure in the direction of transporting movement of web 10 in tunnel 25. Web 10 is transported in tunnel 25 only by the pressure air blown into the same, but at the remote end of tunnel 25, openings 27 are provided through which the air can be discharged in the direction of the arrows into a return conduit 28 concentrically surrounding tunnel 25. The air which contains vapors of the cleaning fluid can be recirculated through blower 26 after having passed through a condensing apparatus, not shown, in which the evaporated cleaning fluid is again recuperated. The

movement of web 10 in the drying tunnel 25 can be improved by downwardly slanting tunnel 25.

The tubular web 10 passes out of the drying tunnel 25 and through the outlet lock gate 13 in loose and untensioned condition, and can then be wound up on a reel, not shown, or deposited in superimposed folds in the form of a stack.

FIG. 2 illustrates a modified embodiment of the drive means forthe treating tunnel 15'. To both ends of tunnel 15', crank links 29 and 30 are connected which are operated by crank discs 31 and 32 so that the tunnel 15' is moved in parallel relation into and out of the treating liquid in container 33 along the entire length thereof. The container 33 is formed as a comparatively narrow vat, as best seen in FIG. 3, so that the immersed tunnel 15' cannot laterally displace the treating liquid, but forces the same through the openings 18, see FIG. 1, into the interior of the tunnel 15', as indicated by arrows in FIG. 3. The treating liquid enters the interior of tunnel 15' at a certain pressure which improves the chemical efl'ect, and particularly the cleaning function of a cleaning liquid in container 33.

In the further modification of the drive means shown in FIG. 4, a tunnel 15" has a front end raised and lowered by a crank drive 31", 29". The crank disc 32" is not driven, so that the link 30" remains in the illustrated position, whereby its lower end serves as a pivot for tunnel 15' which is annularly oscillated similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1. However, since link 30" permits swinging of tunnel 15" in longitudinal direction, tunnel 15 is not only raised and lowered, but can also reciprocate in longitudinal direction which further improves the cleaning effect of the cleaning liquid entering through openings 18.

The apparatus of the invention need not be exactly constructed as shown in the drawings. The treating station including the tunnel 15 and container 14 may be constructed as a first unit, the conveyor means 22, 23 as a second unit, and the tunnel 25 with return conduit means 28 and blower 26 may be constructed as a third unit which can be combined with each other in different positions. The drying unit may be located in the same horizontal plane as the treating unit and the conveyor unit may also be horizontal, while in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the units are all located in a vertical plane. Also, the treating unit may be aligned with the drying unit and connected with the same by an aligned conveyor unit. The combinations of the units are selected in accordance with the available space at the plant where the apparatus is used.

It is also possible to provide a series of consecutive treating units, connected by conveyor means, in which the web is subjected to different treatments before being dried in one or several drying units. It is also possible to provide a drying unit between two successive treating units. While a cleaning of the web has been described by means of a cleaning fluid, it will be understood that the apparatus can be used for continuously treating a long web by other treating fluids of the type used for dressing and sizing textile material.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements for continuously treating textile webs, difiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method and apparatus for cleaning a tubular web in a continuous operation without mechanically transporting the same, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features, that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for continuously treating a long textile material, comprising, in combination, substantially horizontal tunnel means having an inlet and an outlet at the ends thereof and openings between said ends; nozzle means for discharging a chemical treating liquid under pressure into the region of said inlet so that a stream of pressure liquid flows through said tunnel means for transporting a long textile material introduced into said inlet in loose random condition through said tunnel means and out of said outlet; an open container located under said tunnel means and being filled with said treating liquid to a predetermined level, said container having a transverse width only slightly exceeding the transverse width of said tunnel means; and cyclically operating drive means connected with said tunnel means for moving said tunnel means in an up-and-down movement through said level so that said tunnel means is alternately located in and above said treating liquid, said tunnel means entering said treating liquid, forcing treating liquid located laterally of said tunnel means in said container through said openings into said tunnel means and into contact with the textile material.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means include means for moving said tunnel means in a movement having, in addition to the up-and-down movement, a component in the longitudinal direction of said tunnel means so that said tunnel means moves also longitudinally in said container.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive means include at least one crank arm having a lower end pivotally connected with said tunnel means; and a rotary driven means to which the upper end of said crank arm is pivotally connected, said rotary driven means having a horizontal axis of rotation transverse to said tunnel means so that said tunnel means swings with said crank arm in longitudinal direction while being raised and lowered by said rotary driven means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a second tunnel; blower means for blowing air into one end of said second tunnel; and means for transporting said textile material from said outlet of said tunnel means to said one end of said second tunnel so that said textile material is transported in a loose random condition into said second tunnel and transported through the same by the air flowing through said second tunnel in said loose random condition while said textile material is dried.

5. Apparatus for continuously chemically treating a long textile material, comprising, in combination, tunnel means having an inlet and an outlet; and a nozzle for discharging a chemical treating fluid under pressure into the region of said inlet so that a stream of pressure fluid flows through said tunnel means whereby a long textile material introduced into said inlet is transported in loose random condition through said tunnel means and out of said outlet of the same while being continuously treated by said treating fluid; a second tunnel; blower means for blowing air into one end of said second tunnel; and means for transporting said textile material from said outlet of said tunnel means to said one end of said second tunnel so that said textile material is transported in a loose random condition into said second tunnel and transported through the same by the air flowing through said second tunnel, in said loose random condition, while said textile material is dried.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising an open container located under said tunnel means and being filled with said chemical treating fluid, said fluid being a liquid; and cyclically operating drive means for moving said tunnel means into and out of said container; and wherein said tunnel means has openings so that the liquid in said container enters said tunnel means through said openings whereby successive portions of said material are immersed in the treating liquid in said container when said tunnel means enters said container repeatedly.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said container has dimensions only slightly exceeding the dimensions of said tunnel means so that the liquid in said container is forced through said openings into said tunnel when the same enters said container.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising a casing in which said tunnel means, said transporting means, said second tunnel, and said container are located, and having an inlet gate and an outlet gate through which said textile material enters and leaves, said inlet and outlet gates retaining the treating fluid in said casing.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising return conduit means having a portion surrounding said second tunnel; and wherein said second tunnel has openings at least in the end portion remote from said one end so that air passes through said openings into said return conduit means for recirculation.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for transporting include a conveyor having transporting rollers and two endless conveyor belts passing over said transporting rollers and forming a gap for said textile material between said outlet and said one end of said second tunnel and for transporting said textile material in said loose random condition.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said conveyor belts are elastic; and wherein said transporting rollers have at least peripheral parts thereof made of an elastic material for maintaining said textile material in said random condition.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 comprising resilient means for yieldingly supporting said transporting rollers.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim wherein said tunnel means and nozzle form a first unit; wherein said transporting means with said conveyor form a second unit; and wherein said second tunnel and said blower means form a third unit.

t i i 1* l 

1. Apparatus for continuously treating a long textile material, comprising, in combination, substantially horizontal tunnel means having an inlet and an outlet at the ends thereof and openings between said ends; nozzle means for discharging a chemical treating liquid under pressure into the region of said inlet so that a stream of pressure liquid flows through said tunnel means for transporting a long textile material introduced into said inlet in loose random condition through said tunnel means and out of said outlet; an open container located under said tunnel means and being filled with said treating liquid to a predetermined level, said container having a transverse width only slightly exceeding the transverse width of said tunnel means; and cyclically operating drive means connected with said tunnel means for moving said tunnel means in an up-and-down movement through said level so that said tunnel means is alternately located in and above said treating liquid, Said tunnel means entering said treating liquid, forcing treating liquid located laterally of said tunnel means in said container through said openings into said tunnel means and into contact with the textile material.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means include means for moving said tunnel means in a movement having, in addition to the up-and-down movement, a component in the longitudinal direction of said tunnel means so that said tunnel means moves also longitudinally in said container.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive means include at least one crank arm having a lower end pivotally connected with said tunnel means; and a rotary driven means to which the upper end of said crank arm is pivotally connected, said rotary driven means having a horizontal axis of rotation transverse to said tunnel means so that said tunnel means swings with said crank arm in longitudinal direction while being raised and lowered by said rotary driven means.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a second tunnel; blower means for blowing air into one end of said second tunnel; and means for transporting said textile material from said outlet of said tunnel means to said one end of said second tunnel so that said textile material is transported in a loose random condition into said second tunnel and transported through the same by the air flowing through said second tunnel in said loose random condition while said textile material is dried.
 5. Apparatus for continuously chemically treating a long textile material, comprising, in combination, tunnel means having an inlet and an outlet; and a nozzle for discharging a chemical treating fluid under pressure into the region of said inlet so that a stream of pressure fluid flows through said tunnel means whereby a long textile material introduced into said inlet is transported in loose random condition through said tunnel means and out of said outlet of the same while being continuously treated by said treating fluid; a second tunnel; blower means for blowing air into one end of said second tunnel; and means for transporting said textile material from said outlet of said tunnel means to said one end of said second tunnel so that said textile material is transported in a loose random condition into said second tunnel and transported through the same by the air flowing through said second tunnel, in said loose random condition, while said textile material is dried.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising an open container located under said tunnel means and being filled with said chemical treating fluid, said fluid being a liquid; and cyclically operating drive means for moving said tunnel means into and out of said container; and wherein said tunnel means has openings so that the liquid in said container enters said tunnel means through said openings whereby successive portions of said material are immersed in the treating liquid in said container when said tunnel means enters said container repeatedly.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said container has dimensions only slightly exceeding the dimensions of said tunnel means so that the liquid in said container is forced through said openings into said tunnel when the same enters said container.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising a casing in which said tunnel means, said transporting means, said second tunnel, and said container are located, and having an inlet gate and an outlet gate through which said textile material enters and leaves, said inlet and outlet gates retaining the treating fluid in said casing.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising return conduit means having a portion surrounding said second tunnel; and wherein said second tunnel has openings at least in the end portion remote from said one end so that air passes through said openings into said return conduit means for recirculation.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for transporting include a convEyor having transporting rollers and two endless conveyor belts passing over said transporting rollers and forming a gap for said textile material between said outlet and said one end of said second tunnel and for transporting said textile material in said loose random condition.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said conveyor belts are elastic; and wherein said transporting rollers have at least peripheral parts thereof made of an elastic material for maintaining said textile material in said random condition.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 comprising resilient means for yieldingly supporting said transporting rollers.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said tunnel means and nozzle form a first unit; wherein said transporting means with said conveyor form a second unit; and wherein said second tunnel and said blower means form a third unit. 